{"id":10103,"date":"2026-03-24T23:35:43","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T22:35:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rominwest.nl\/?post_type=inspiratie&p=10103"},"modified":"2026-06-05T12:26:12","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T10:26:12","slug":"the-regional-defence-team-is-open-for-business","status":"publish","type":"inspiratie","link":"https:\/\/rominwest.nl\/en\/nieuws\/het-regioteam-defensie-is-open-for-business\/","title":{"rendered":"The Defence Innovation Team North Holland is \u2018open for business\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dual-use innovations<\/h4>\n

Dual-use goods are products, technologies or software that can be used for both civilian and military applications. This means they can be used for normal, peaceful purposes, but also for military applications. An example is drones. These are widely used, including for monitoring shipping in the port of Rotterdam. But drones can also be used militarily to reconnoitre areas and monitor infrastructure. For Defence, dual-use innovations are important because they allow them to use technology developed outside the armed forces.<\/p>\n

Investing in innovation<\/h4>\n

Defence is focusing on five technology areas where the Netherlands has a strong position: smart materials, sensors, quantum technology, space technology, and intelligent systems (AI). To best utilise this knowledge and innovative strength, close collaboration between government, Defence, and businesses is essential. Therefore, in North Holland, Defence, the province, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Business Representation steering group, and ROM InWest are working together in the Defence Innovation Team North Holland. Within this network, there is a two-way exchange: issues from Defence can be shared with innovative entrepreneurs who may have a solution, and conversely, entrepreneurs with an interesting proposition for Defence are helped in establishing a collaboration. In this way, dual-use technologies not only contribute to the security and resilience of the Netherlands but also strengthen the future earning capacity of the region.<\/p>\n

Faster to collaboration<\/h4>\n

Niels Blij chairs the Business Representation Steering Group and explains what it does: \u201cThe Steering Group is the voice\u2019 of the regional companies towards Defence. Together, we look at opportunities, make valuable connections and build bridges to the armed forces. And we help companies working on potential dual-use products to get in touch with Defence more quickly. Those lines are often too long now, while we no longer have that time. Especially in peacetime, we need to open the channels and invest in technology and cooperation. That way, we ensure that the infrastructure is ready to scale up quickly when circumstances change. Moreover, an important advantage of dual-use is that if military equipment runs out, you can fall back on technology that is also used civilian and is more widely available.\u201d<\/p>\n

From personal experience<\/h4>\n

Chairing the steering committee seems right up Niels' alley. He worked in the Army for eight years, then had his own company and is now head of Defence Innovations & Relations at Avy, one of the largest Dutch drone developers. In this role, he bridges the gap between Avy and Defence.<\/a> Avy's long-range drones have also recently become dual-use and can be used for, for example, reconnaissance of areas, monitoring infrastructure and supply routes, and transporting medical supplies. Niels: \u201cAs a former soldier with combat experience, I speak the language of Defence and know what the people in uniform need. We are now discussing where our drones have the best applications.\u201d<\/p>\n

Call: working together for the Netherlands<\/h4>\n

Niels is calling on businesses in North Holland that already have dual-use products, but also on entrepreneurs who are unsure whether their product is dual-use: \u201cWe want to map out all potential dual-use companies in North Holland, even if they don\u2019t yet have a concrete defence application. This could involve companies that make a specific product, but also the supply chain is important, such as certain plastics. We invite these businesses to participate in our working group. In the working group, we share knowledge with each other and there is a lot of valuable cross-pollination. All innovative entrepreneurs are welcome, even if a company\u2019s activities fall outside the five focus areas. We will then look together if participation in the working group is beneficial. It is important that dual-use companies unite and that ideas from companies reach Defence more quickly. This is how we work together from North Holland for the Netherlands. The brand-new Defence Innovation Team North Holland is \u2018open for business\u2019, so sign up!\u201d<\/p>\n

Do you want to contribute to security, strategic autonomy and innovation with your company? Then we would like to get in touch! Apply to our Business Developer Dual Use Ren\u00e9 Schmitt. He can also tell you how to apply for funding from the SecFund, a special fund for Dutch startups, scale-ups and innovative SMEs developing dual-use technologies.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The geopolitical world is changing rapidly. Europe needs to take more responsibility for its own security \u2013 and the same applies to the Netherlands. Defence is therefore intensifying cooperation with the business community and knowledge institutions. This has led, among other things, to the establishment of the Defence Innovation Team North Holland, where Defence, companies and the government work together on dual-use innovations. Here, we are harnessing the innovative power of North Holland for a safer Netherlands.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":10104,"template":"","tags":[108,130,138],"soort-insp":[76],"class_list":["post-10103","inspiratie","type-inspiratie","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-dual-use","tag-innovatie-ontsluiten","tag-regioteam-dual-use","soort-insp-nieuws"],"yoast_head":"\nHet Defensie Innovatie Team Noord-Holland is \u2018open for business\u2019 - ROM InWest<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"De geopolitieke wereld verandert snel. Europa moet meer verantwoordelijkheid nemen voor de eigen veiligheid \u2013 en dat geldt ook voor Nederland. Defensie intensifieert daarom de samenwerking met het bedrijfsleven en kennisinstellingen. Dat heeft onder andere geleid tot de oprichting van het Defensie Innovatie Team Noord-Holland, waarin Defensie, bedrijven en de overheid samenwerken aan dual-use-innovaties. Hier zetten we de innovatiekracht van Noord-Holland in voor een veiliger Nederland.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/rominwest.nl\/en\/news\/the-regional-defence-team-is-open-for-business\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Het Defensie Innovatie Team Noord-Holland is \u2018open for business\u2019\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"De geopolitieke wereld verandert snel. Europa moet meer verantwoordelijkheid nemen voor de eigen veiligheid \u2013 en dat geldt ook voor Nederland. Defensie intensifieert daarom de samenwerking met het bedrijfsleven en kennisinstellingen. 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